Dems vow passage of background check bill

Dems vow passage of background check bill

Far from dead, legislation expanding background checks before gun sales still has a chance of passing this Congress, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate said Wednesday.

While the background check issue has been dormant on Capitol Hill since the Senate shot down such a proposal earlier in the year, Democrats argue that enough pressure on House GOP leaders would return the topic to prominence – and force a floor vote – before next year’s mid-term elections.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the combination of public outrage at mass shootings and an animated advocacy front has created conditions like those that catalyzed the enactment of stricter gun laws roughly 20 years ago.